rescue efforts
the song is barely heard
but it’s there
buried beneath the rubble
the children need to hear it
on their hands & knees
clawing & digging with their fingers
there I can hear the song again
one of them says
it’s like a whisper but it’s there
and the others agree
digging even faster now
saying yes we can hear it too
adults with shovels
frantically plunge & pull the blade
throwing the contents
past their shoulder
the light of day passing through
the song of hope growing stronger
with each & every effort
may two thousand twenty-three
copyright j matthew waters
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